NCAA mens 10,000

The weather for Thursday should be spectacular for the longer distances- dry, high of 80, low of 50. Race time should be 62-65 if the normal Sac conditions apply. A 50% chance of Delta breezes after sun goes down, as always. A big storm just came through today and blew out the humidity and clouds from the last few days, with a nice cold front behind it.

Well I hate to tell many of you that I told you so, but there was no double by either McDougal or Kipyego. At least Kipyego played it smart and took it very easy in the 5K semis. She saved herself enough to get the 10K title, but that's it.

On the other hand McDougle likely could have had the 10K title if he hadn't doubled. Perhaps the 5K as well. Now he had a 3rd and 4th place finish -- but he did score 11 points for his team, 1 more than if he hadn't doubled. I hope is coach felt the extra point was worth not being an NCAA champion. Real stupid decision on part of coach.

As dominate as Kipyego was this year, I would have bet any of you she wouldn't have ended a double winner either. But in her case, she did have a good chance at the 10K title even if she ran a 5K the day before. So she had nothing much to lose by doubleing and potentially a lot to gain (1st distance runner to win 5 titles in a year).

Congratulations to Michelle Sikes, but Molly Huddle has got to be disappointed. Molly never ran as fast as she did her '03 freshman year against Fleshman and Flanagan. She never was an NCAA champion, in spite of having the American Junior 5K record. This appears to me an obvious case of her coach overtraining her. I know someone who interviewed with her coach and was very unimpressed.

Conversely, McD had a lot to lose and nothing much to gain by doubling because his competitors were so much stronger. He couldn't have realistically hoped to win two titles -- but he tried and got none.

And to "Say wha?", obviously you know nothing about recovery times needed after 5k/10k races. Sally won't win an outdoor double next year either.

800 dude wrote:

Whether or not he can run fast when it matters is irrelevant. Galen will win this race no matter how he runs it.

How do Gaylens dingleberries smell now?

Yea, that's what I thought... like 2nd place.

Hubris. I am the best. What is the easiest, most dramatic way to win this race? Easy pace, kick with four laps to go. Its pre-ordained Galen (sez AZ). You're the next big thing, let's get ready for USA's and going pro for your impoverished family. What arrogance! And to top it off he doesn't even show for the awards ceremony.

Are you serious? Rupp skipped the awards?

What a POS!